Sermon Report

 Yesterday's sermon was preached by Pastor Christopher Engelsma. The sermon was a continuation of the pastor's series on Acts, but we read from Ezekiel and took a look at Acts. The sermon touched on baptism, similar to the last couple of sermons as we are studying the pouring out of the Holy Spirit onto the early Christians. Some modern Christians believe that only people who can make a credible confession of faith can be allowed to have the sacrament of baptism. However, as we study the Bible, we can see a reason to believe otherwise. The Hebrews would've understood a baptism to be a family event. If the head of a house was baptized, the entire house, including his children, which included the infants, would've been baptized. This practice appeared to have continued throughout the early church. 

Sermon Report

Yesterday's sermon was preached in the second half of Acts 2. Pastor Chris Engelsma preached on the first half last Sunday, so we did the second half this Sunday. This section of Acts is where Peter preached his Pentecost sermon. First, he gets out of the way of the accusation by some in the crowd that he and the rest of the Christians gathered there are drunk. Then he preaches, focusing not on the power of the Holy Spirit, or the beautiful things that had happened, but on Jesus Christ and everyone's need for repentance. 

Sermon Report

 Yesterday's sermon was preached by Christopher Engelsma at Covenant URC. The text was Acts 2. This is the chapter where the Holy Spirit is poured out onto the Apostles and the early Christians during the Jewish holiday of Pentecost. The spirit made all of the people hear what the Christians, and especially Peter, preached in their own tongue, Romans in latin, Arabs arabic, egyptians in egyptian, etc. Yet, despite this incredible miracle, what Peter focused on in his message was Jesus, not the Holy Spirit. This is because that is what the Holy Spirit is for, to bring people to Jesus. 

Susie Spurgeon's Legacy

 Susie Spurgeon is usually utterly eclipsed by her husband's achievements. However, she too served God faithfully and was one of the reasons her husband was able to do all that he did. She was known for her charity, especially for poor pastors and students. Her children spoke about how she would have them sing hymns around the piano, and of how well she managed the household despite her ill-health and frailty. 

Sermon Report

 Yesterday's sermon was preached by Pastor Christopher Engelsma at Covenant URC. The text was again Acts 1. In Acts, we see God's plan to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. Before this could happen, the Apostles had to receive the Holy Spirit, to be baptized in the fire as John the Baptist put it. John baptized Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came to him visually as a dove at that point. After that, Jesus was able to perform miracles because he received the Holy Spirit's power. In the same way, the Apostles received power, and in the same way, every Christian receives power. This doesn't always manifest in miracles or things as dramatic as tongues of fire, but it does happen.  

Susie Spurgeon's Last Days

 Susie Spurgeon's health declined until finally she died at 8:30 on a Monday morning. She blessed her son Thomas, and her son later said that the words would stick with him in his heart until he too was called home. It is recorded that her last words were "My husband!" Her funeral wasn't called a funeral but instead labeled as a homegoing. A choir from an orphanage Susie was involved in singing at the homegoing, and the story was carried int he newspapers of the day. 

Susie Spurgeon After Her Husband's Death

 After her husband's death was when Susie Spurgeon did most of her work, including raising money for charitable endeavors and publishing a few books. While not as prolific as her husband, Susie's writings are considered to be in good standing. Despite all of this, her bad health continued to plague her. Her son Thomas, who took over the management of his father's church, told the congregation once that Susie could come to a celebration that would last until 9, but she could only be there until 5.